Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-12
CLEVELAND No COWARD.
THE OUTRAGEOUS PENSION
RAID HEROICALLY VETOED.


That the Country Has a President at
the Helm Who Dares Do Right-The
sound Reasons on Which His sigma
ture is Withheld.
AsHINGToN, Feb. lin the House
at3:45 O'Clock this afternoon the Presi-
dents private secretary was announced
and presented a message from the Presi-
lent transmitting without his approval
the dependent pension bill. The reading
of the message was followed with an at
tention more strict than is generally ac-
corded to such documents. AT its con-
clusion Mr.. Matson, OF Indiana, moved
that the bill and accompanying message
be referred to the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, promising that they would be
reported back within the coming week.
The motion was agreed to by vote of 1872
to 27.
The act is entitled ian act for the re-
lief of dependent parents and hOnorably
discharged soldiers and sailors WHO are
now disabled and dependent upon their
own iabOr.'' The veto is long docu-
1ent, embracing over 1000 words. The
President says this is the first general
bill that has been sanctioned by Congress
since the close of the fate civil war per-
mitting pension to soldiers and sailors
who served in that war upon tue ground
of service and present disability alone
and the entire absence of any injuries re-
ceived by the. casualties or incidents Of
such service.
Several precedents for it exist, how
ever, in our legislation, which are still
Operative and which he cites.
WHOLESALE ROBBERY.
Tho Drooant hill oO1 hraonS all UhO arp
benefciaries OF similar precedent legis-
lation. The President proceeds:
On July l, 1886, l,365.763 pensioners of all
classes were upon the pension rolls, or whom
305, ,6J5 were Survivors of the war of the rebel
lion and their widows and dependents. For
the year ending June 30, 1857, S75,000,000 has
been appropriated for The payment of PEN
slons, and the amount expended for that pur-
pose from 1861 to July l, 1886, is SSOS 624,S 81.
Whlle annually paying out sucn vast sum
for pensions already granted, 1t is now pro-
posed by the bill under consideration TO
award service pensions to sold ers of ali the
wars il which the United States has been
engaged, including, Of course. the war of the
rebellion. and to pay those entitled to the
henefts of the act the sum of $l2 per month.
BEGINNING EARLIER.
So far as 1t relates to soldiers of the late
civil war the bounty it affords them is given
thirteen years earlier than it has been fur
nlshed to the soldiers of any other war, and
before large majority Of Its beneiciaries
have advanced IN age beyond the strength
and vigor of the prime OF life. IL exacts only
military or naval servEe OF three months,
without any requirement OF actual engage
ment with an enemy in battle, and without
subjection to any of the actual dangers of
war. The pension it allows is allowed to en-
listed men who have not suffered the least in
jury, disability or damage of any kind, in
CURED In, or in any degree referrable to their
military service, including those who never
reached the front at all, and those discharged
from rendezvous at the close of the war, if
oh ghrno he q GFnr lfzf
Under the last call of the President for troops
in December, 1864, II, 1903 men were furnished
who were thus discharged.
SOME RESTRICTION.
The section allowing this pension does,
however, require, beside the service of three
months and an honorable discharge, that
''th0se seeking the benefit of the act shall be
such as now are or may hereafter he suffering
from mental or physical disability, not the re-
suit of their own vicious habits or gross care
leGAness, which incapacltates them for the
performance of labor IN such degree as to
render them unable to earn support, and who
are dependent on their daily labor for sup
rort." 1t provides further that such persons
Bhall, upon making proof of the fact. be
placed on the list OF invalid pensioners of
the United States, and be entitled to receive
for such total inability to procure
their subsistence by daily labor, sl2 per
month, and such pension shall commence
from the date of tue liling of the application
IN the Pension Office. upon proof that dIs-
ability then existed. and continue during the
existence of the same in the degree herein
provided; provided, that persons who are
now receiving pensions under the existing
laws, or whose claims are pending in the
Pension Office, may, by application to the
Commissioner of Pensions, In such form as no
may prescribe, receive the benefit OF this act.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT.
1t is manfestly of the utmost Importance
that the statutes, which, like the pension
laws, should be literally administered as
measures Of benevOlence in behalf of worthy
benehciares, and should admit of no uncer-
tainty as to their general objects aud copse-
quences. Upon careful consideration OF the
language OF the section of this bill above given.
IL seems to me to be so uncertain and liable to
such coniilctlng constructions and 10 be sub
yect 10 such unjust and mischievous appllca-
tlon as to alone furnish sufficient ground for
oisapproVlng the proposed legislation.
After some space devoted to a close
analysis of the antiquities OF the bill
and its opportunities for unfaIrness, un-
Just discrimination and partisan par
tallty In its administration, and pointing
out the differences of opinion as to its
scope held by members of Congress who
acted upon 1t, the President says.
l am OF the opinion that it may fairly be
eontended that under the provisions of this
section any soldier whose faculties of mind or
body nave become impaired by accident dis
ease, or age. Irrespective of his service IN the
army as cause, and who by MS labor only is
4 ie1t incapable of gaining fair support might,
pOWtTb, nave provided Tor
| hlmself and who Is not 80 well endowed with
TINS worlds goods as to live without work
my claim TO participate in its bounty, and
tnat ltls not required that he should be with
out property but only that labor should be
necessary to his support in some degree, nor
10 IL required that he should be now receiving
support from others.
WELL PROVIDED FOR.
believing this to be proper Interpretation
Oh Tue OIL cannot but remember that the
eoidlefs In our civil war in their nav and
Dounty received such compensation for their
Il nlllllary services as has never been received
Wy soldiers before since mankind first went to
war; tnat never before on behalf OF any
sOulers nave so many and such generous laws
oeen passed TO relieve against the incidents
nl war; that statutes have been passed giving
tnem preference In all public emDloy oyments:
sst really needy and homeless Union soldiers
VI the rebellion have been 10 large extent
provided Tor at soldiers homes, Instituted
anu supported by the government, where
ehey are maintained together free from a
sense OF degradation which attaches TO the
SHsuai support OF charity, and that never be-
.o Ule IN tne history of the country has 1t been
Moposeu TO render government aid toward
H1. support Of any of its
soluIers based alone upon military service 40
,eSent; ana where age and circumstances APP
peaiLeu pi 80 llttle to demand such aid. Hitherto
o, uHn reheT has been granted To surviving
,,ers lew In number, venerable In age
@ @iteT long lapse OF time since their military
..se ana az parting benefactiou ten